PLGRM documentary reveals life in Melbourne's infamous Gatwick Hotel

Contestants on the new series of The Block will have to renovate bathrooms like this one at the Gatwick private hotel.Source:News Limited

ON a Sunday morning outside Australia’s infamous “hell hotel”, a line of people was banging at the front door as Australia’s most infamous rooming house was starting up another manic day.

It was late April and a freezing wind along St Kilda’s Fitzroy street had the old, infirm and drug or drink affected huddled up to the front door waiting for the 10am opening when they could be let in to light up a joint over a cup of instant with those inside who could afford a night in one of the dilapidated but cleanish rooms.

The Gatwick Private Hotel was a place where you can be murdered in your room, robbed, bashed or offered a variety of drugs among the cockroaches, addicts and prison parolees who graced its doors.

The notorious “house of horrors” was also regarded as home for Melbourne’s downtrodden, and the people out on the street felt even less fortunate for not being among those cashed up to have rooms inside for the princely sum of around $230 a week.

A woman who introduced herself as the “famous Aunty Coco of the Gatty” told news.com.au the only reason she was outside on that windy Autumn morning was that she had been barred “cos I got caught twice for stealing”.

In the 1950s, Kelly and Banks’ mother, Maltese-born Vittoria Carbone bought the hotel and turned it into a long-term accommodation boarding house for Melbourne’s downtrodden.

“Queen Vicky” as she was known provided affordable shelter for up to 90 of the needy on any given day, giving the homeless, the drug-addicted and parolees and social outcasts rooms with private bathrooms.

Queen Vicky died in 1998, leaving her daughters to continue her legacy of compassion, but struggle with rising costs as the seaside sleazy suburb of St Kilda gentrified and appreciated.

When news.com.au visited last year, just weeks before the Gatwick finally closed its doors, the deliberate contraction of its resident numbers was visible on the nearby streets in camping and homeless itinerants.

“Where’s everyone going to go when they shut the Gatty down?” Aunty Coco asked. “They’re already locking the doors and not letting visitors in after 9pm.”

Former resident of the Gartwick in one of the upstairs room in the shambolic three-storey building.Source:News Limited

Detectives exit the Gatwick after searching for the man suspected of murder in 2016. Picture: Jay Town.Source:News Corp Australia

The Gatty closed its doors in July last year, and boarded up the openings to prevent vandalism

or squatters as Nine’s The Block prepared to take over.

Scaffolding went up in January, and workers moved on to the site to inspect its maze of plumbing and electrics before prepping the building for Block contestants and filming.

According to The Herald Sun, plans to convert the hotel into luxury apartments were submitted to the Port Phillip Council last year.

The show’s executive producer Julian Cress said the renovations would not begin until every Gatwick resident had found new accommodation.

As The Block 2018 Gatwick Hotel prepares to air on Sunday night at 8.30pm on Channel 9, old stalwarts of the Gatty still lurk on the surrounding streets in St Kilda boarding houses perhaps cleaner but never as grand as the Gatwick.

The couples vying for the prize to transform the old fleapit into glamorous flats are: